Earlier, a “Question Time” event was chaired by Selina Scott and featured MPs Julian Smith and Caroline Flint, Mike Cherry of the Federation of Small Businesses and Yorkshire Post business editor Bernard Ginns.

Speaking as the event drew to a close, Roger Pollen, the Federation of Small Businesses’ head of external affairs, said: “It’s been an excellent conference, and I have to say the welcome has been brilliant.

“It’s been very warm and we’ve been very lucky with the weather.

“I thought Vince Cable gave a good defence of Government policy and Ed Balls made a strong attack. In many ways you want to get a good debate going.

“There’s been some very good question sessions which is how you get grassroots issues going forward.”

Conference organisers attempted to leave a lasting legacy in Scarborough, after they invited Yorkshire Coast College students to cook for delegates on Friday.

The cookery students competed and winning dishes were prepared at the meal. A shield was provided and it is hoped that it will become an annual competition among students.

“We wanted to leave something behind,” Mr Pollen added.

Shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint was among the guests at the conference on Saturday.

She posted a photo of Scarborough’s South Bay on her Twitter page and wrote: “On a sunny day British beaches are mint.”

The event was the 38th annual Federation of Small Businesses conference.

The group boasts 200,000 members in the UK and has around 500 members in Scarborough.